River Of Marigolds
Self-Released, 2022
8/10
The singer-songwriter and guitarist Jon Chi is in fine company here, as members of Monophonics, Widespread Panic, The Cowlicks and others help him flesh out this well thought out 3rd album.
“Cold Clear Winter” opens the listen with much warmth, as cozy pedal steel, thumping drums and Chi’s distinct, soulful vocals guide the very memorable Americana, and the title track follows with a calm, even dreamy approach that’s indebted to folk in a very timeless, poetic fashion.
In the middle, the gritty “Road To Revival” brings some bluesy spirit to both melody and grit, while “Bring On The Rain”, the album’s best, is textured with a breezy, cosmic country sort of feeling.
Approaching the end, “Sweet Surrender” is full of sublime and intimate songwriting that’s quite stirring, and the reprise version of the title track exits the listen bare, raw and full of soulful keys, charming guitar and soft singing.
Chi is the former frontman for the jam band Rainmaker, and he takes that experience and parlays it into his own brand of gospel that flirts with folk, country, roots and even psychedelic sounds on this highly imaginative and lyrically relevant listen.
Travels well with: Matt North- Bullies In The Backyard; Terry Klein- Tex